Zuckerberg group has $250K ad buy

An immigration advocacy group backed by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg launched a new cable advertising campaign Tuesday aimed at pressuring House Republicans in what is likely the last window for an immigration overhaul this year.

The national cable TV buy includes two ads from the group, FWD.us, and a spokeswoman said the combined spending for the two ads will be about $250,000.

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The first one comes from Americans for a Conservative Direction, a subsidiary of the Zuckerberg group. The one-minute long ad, called “Choices,” stresses on finding a solution for the estimated 11 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.

Though the narrator says the United States could “try to deport them,” the ad makes the argument that doing so would be an unrealistic and expensive option.

“Or we can do what many conservatives in Congress have suggested,” the narrator continued. “Finally secure our borders so this never happens again, and create a system for those 11 million people here illegally to get right with the law.”

The second ad comes directly from FWD.us and features a young woman named Dayana Torres, who tells viewers that she came to the United States when she was 9 years old. It was not until she had been offered five full-ride scholarships that she discovered her undocumented status – rendering her ineligible for the financial aid.

“This country means everything to me,” she says in the 30-second ad. “All I’m asking for is a chance to give back.”

House Republicans have been under considerable attention and pressure to move on immigration reform this year, though clearing an overhaul through the GOP-led chamber remains a major uphill climb.

Most advocates view the rest of June and July as the last opportunity to move immigration reform through Congress in 2014. President Barack Obama, who is under pressure as well to take some executive action on deportations, has indicated that he will hold off on any unilateral action until the August congressional recess.